WRTV's Kara Kenney has an interesting story this evening on government employees and resources being utilized to direct couples intending to marry after completing a marriage license application at the Marion Co. Clerk's Office to a private office maintained by Center Township Small Claims Court Judge Michelle Scott where she and her husband officiate weddings for a fee. Judge Scott can officiate those same wedding ceremonies in her official office in the City-County Building during normal office hours for an $80 fee; however, those revenues are deposited into the township's general fund. By directing persons to her private office, she and her husband can retain the wedding fee. Together, they've performed more than 1,300 wedding ceremonies since 2013, more than any other person in Marion Co. authorized under state law to officiate weddings.
Call 6 sent a person to the City-County Building to Judge Scott's office and the Information Center wearing a hidden camera. In both instances, the hidden camera captured government employees either handing business cards with the address and contact information for Judge Scott's private office or directing people to her private office on East Market Street. Kenney's efforts to speak to Judge Scott were unsuccessful, and when she visited her private office where her husband, Rich, was located, he ordered her to leave his office. Marion Circuit Court Judge Louis Rosenberg he was concerned about the arrangement and was looking into it. "If public facilities and public status are being used to make money privately, I'd be concerned about that," Rosenberg said. Judge Scott's tenure ends at the end of the year. She lost her bid for re-election in the Democratic primary election in May to Brenda Roper.
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